Agenda item

CSP Community Protection Plan 2016/17.

The community safety coordinator to inform the task group of progress with the Community Protection Plan 2016/17.

The Community Safety Coordinator introduced the updated plan.  He outlined progress in relation to the following tasks:

·        Develop an understanding of the needs of existing and emerging communities now and over the next 4 years.

·        Focusing on the protection of the most vulnerable in our community.

·        Extend the remit of the Community Protection Group improving the co-ordination with key agencies such as the multi-agency protection arrangement (MAPPA) and the National Crime Agency.

·        Maintain the Prevent strategy; preventing vulnerable people being drawn in to or supporting terrorism.

·        Work with partners at the Community Protection Group to identify and address issues of vulnerability due to homelessness or mental health.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Section Head informed the task group that funding had been secured to enable a Hertfordshire County Council analyst to conduct work to determine the demographics of the Watford community now and in the next four years – this should be completed by January 2017.  The product would then enable research to be conducted within communities to identify their needs.  The pilot could then be rolled out across Hertfordshire.

The Community Safety Coordinator explained that research was being conducted in to sex worker issues with further funding being provided in the future.

A communications campaign would also be carried out in relation to sexual exploitation – including a focus on young people and the change of profile.

The Community Safety Coordinator explained the MAPPA arrangements and how single points of conduct were identified in the various agencies; such as in WBC Housing.  Members discussed the efficacy of the single point of contact approach and the Chair suggested that this may be work that the task group should take forward in the future.

The Community Safety Coordinator discussed how a Prevent e-learning package would be rolled out across WBC. He informed the task group that a workshop to raise awareness on Prevent would be provided to members across the Council on 8 December 2016 (with further sessions to follow if necessary).

The Environmental Health and Licensing Section Head advised the task group that a new County Prevent Group; including local authorities, the Probation Service, police, the Fire and Rescue Service had been instigated to share best practice and action plans.  A generic action plan would then be developed which could be shared with the task group.

In response to a question from Councillor Cavinder, the Community Safety Coordinator informed the task group that a list of community safety acronyms would be available to members in the next few months - and that he would circulate a list pertinent to this presentation following the meeting.

The Community Safety Coordinator discussed how mental health issues were dealt with when avenues such as prosecution were not considered appropriate; with Watford having access to particular expertise in this regard.  

He concluded that the outcomes of the Community Protection Plan would be ratified by the One Watford Strategic Partnership group in March 2017.

RESOLVED that –

the update be noted.

the action requested be undertaken.